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With the spread of coronavirus under control and
domestic leisure travel growing, ME travel professionals are looking to China
to initiate international tourism
One
of the most eagerly awaited sessions during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM)
three-day ATM Virtual event that takes place from 1-3 June 2020, is undoubtedly
The
Virtual ATM China Tourism Forum.
The
debate will take an in-depth look at the potential of the Chinese outbound
leisure market now that China seems to have the viral outbreak under control
and domestic tourism is growing once again. Many Middle East travel
professionals will be looking for insight into the current state of the market
and more importantly, how and when to start planning for inbound Chinese
visitors.
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| H.e.-khalid-jasim-al-midfa-chairman-sharjah-commerce-and-tourism-development-authority |
Danielle Curtis,
Exhibition Director Middle East, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Travel and
tourism professionals around the globe will not need reminding that the global
industry has been hit badly by the effects of Covid-19 – but in China we are
witnessing the green-shoots of recovery.
“The
relatively swift rebound of domestic travel during the May Golden Week Holiday
in China for example, underscores the bullish view of certain analysts
regarding China’s integral role in leading the global tourism industry post
Covid-19’s closed borders.
“Some hoteliers in China were reporting
occupancy levels for the recent national holiday in excess of 45% with resort
markets close to 70%, a significant improvement from the overall average of 30%
occupancy, confirming leisure demand is robust.”
Specifically,
The Virtual ATM China Tourism Forum will focus on the potential recovery of
outbound travel and how Chinese travellers have been changing the way that they
access information about foreign destinations and making contacts with local
hotels, tour operators and ground handlers.
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| Helen-shapovalova-founder-director-pan-ukraine |
Moderated
by Dr.
Adam Wu, the panellists for this session, which takes place on day
two (Tuesday 2nd June) at 11am to 12pm GST (8am to 9am BST), include
Dr.
Taleb Rifai, Chairman,
International Institute of Peace for Tourism (IIPT) and former Secretary
General of the UNWTO; H.E.
Khalid Jasim al-Midfa, Chairman,
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Helen
Shapovalova, Founder
& Director, Pan Ukraine; Lisa
Dinh, Tourism Director, VIA Outlets and Tony Ong, Chief
Business Officer and Vice President of HCG International Travel Group, which
has over 7000 local travel agents across China focusing on outbound travel.
The
experts will share their opinion and experience on how to overcome the current
crisis by identifying new buying patterns, new demand streams and innovative
ways of reaching customers as well as of course enhancing existing
partnerships.
“We
have an impressive line-up of tourism experts and Dr. Wu’s credentials are exemplary. He is CEO of CBN
Travel & Mice and World Travel Online, which
is the leading outbound travel portal on the China Wide Web providing
destination information in Chinese to the entire outbound travel trade and
millions of Chinese travellers,” added
Curtis.
With
it being a live session, members of the online audience will also have a chance
to ask questions, through a Q+A function at the end of the discussion. In
addition, viewers will also have an opportunity to share and exchange thoughts
and ideas, during a speed networking session, immediately following the panel
debate.
Another highlight of ATM virtual, will be
a series of hour-long speed networking sessions, between key buyers and
exhibitors, will culminate in over 1,400 5-minute meetings that can then be
extended into more in-depth meetings where a business need is identified.
“For exhibitors from this region, the
dedicated networking event will also include one specifically targeting Chinese
buyers,” said Curtis.
Over
three days, ATM Virtual, will also feature a host of comprehensive webinars,
live conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking events, one-to-one
meetings, as well as facilitating new connections and offering a wide range of
online business opportunities.
With up
to four live high-level sessions each day, industry experts will address a
range of topics including tourism strategies for the future, the hotel
landscape in a post-COVID-19 world, and the resilience of the travel industry,
as well as exploring emerging travel technology and sustainability trends,
amongst other key topics.
Sessions on the first day of the virtual
event include, amongst others, ‘Communicating and Building Confidence Now’ and
‘The Hotel landscape in a post-COVID-19 world’.
Day two will also include the sessions
entitled, ‘Bouncing Back: Tourism Strategies for the Future’ and ‘Catapulting
Resilience Through Technology and Analytics’. On day three, the event will
conclude with the International Travel Investment Conference summit, ‘Restructuring
to attract sustainable investment and customers in the new world order’.
Arabian Travel Market would like
to thank the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia and the Italian Tourist Board for
their support of ATM Virtual as Gold Sponsors.
ATM Virtual takes place from Monday 1st to
Wednesday 3rd June 2020. To register for the event please visit: atmvirtual.eventnetworking.com/register/
Tags: ATM Virtual
